Links: “Rasputin”, DIY Spotify payola, Thriller, Tommy Keene.

Why did Boney M make a song about Rasputin, and how did they end up taking the melody from a Turkish folk song? “There is actually an answer to this question. Trouble is, it’s in a 2007 ethnomusicology book that hardly anyone’s read …”

Apologies for the lack of Rocknerd, I’ve been flat-out here with the blockchain blog making a small and increasing amount of money and turning into effectively a second job. Also I get to go on Russian television as a talking-head expert. My daughter came along to watch how a TV news spot is actually made and called me boring. Hmph.